And the crowns shall be to Helem— And the crowns shall be for the family of Heldai, namely, to Tobijah, &c. Houbigant. See Genesis 1:23; Genesis 4:57. Though the last verse may refer literally to the Jews, and other artificers flowing in from all parts to build the temple; yet it has had, and will have, its more ample completion in the conversion of the world to Christ, that true temple of the living God. See Isaiah 60:10 and John 2:19.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The vision of this chapter is of very difficult interpretation. The chariots coming from between the brazen mountains are supposed by some to represent,
1. The apostles and ministers of the Gospel, going forth into all lands. The different colours of the horses may denote their various messages of wrath or mercy; their ministry is accompanied with the powerful operations of the Spirit, compared to the wind, which acts invisibly; and they are sent from Christ, the Lord of the whole earth, to the different parts of the world; and by their labours sinners are brought back to God's favour, and his wrath is turned away, his Spirit quieted towards them. Or,
2. These signify the angelic hosts, the spirits of the heavens, coming forth from the mount of God into the earth, as executioners of God's commands, and instruments of wrath or mercy according as God is pleased to send them; and when they have gone to and fro, and accomplished their ministry, God is well pleased, and his Spirit quieted and refreshed. Or,
3. These are the four monarchies, called the winds of the heaven, Daniel 7:2. The Babylonish is represented by the red horses, the Persian by the black, the Grecian by the white, and the Roman by the grisled and bay horses, who walked to and fro in the earth, or through the land of Judaea, and subdued it. And a peculiar notice is taken of those who went forth into the north country, they have quieted my Spirit, having avenged on the Babylonians the violence that they had used towards God's captive Israel. Or,
4. They refer to the dispensations of Divine Providence in general. His chariots run at his will; chariots of love to his faithful people, to whom all things work together for good; chariots of war to his enemies, whom he treads under his horses' feet: from him the ministers of Providence take their directions, and each in his sphere accomplishes the work that is given him to do, and God is well pleased in beholding the counsels of his own will fulfilled by them.
2nd, Before, God taught the people by visions; here, he teaches them by type and figure.
1. Joshua the high-priest is crowned by Zechariah with crowns of gold and silver, made of the offerings which Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah brought from Babylon, and in their presence. They who came not yet up to the temple, sent their presents thither, and with their gifts endeavoured to compensate for their absence. The crowns on Joshua were designed to intimate the union of the kingly and sacerdotal offices in him whom he prefigured, and whose name he bore.
2. A prophesy, founded on this figure, is delivered to Joshua. Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch, the divine Messiah; and he shall grow up out of his place, from Bethlehem-Ephratah, the city appointed for the place of his birth; and he shall build the temple of the Lord, the gospel-church, of which he is the great architect; and by his power alone it is raised up and established; even he shall build the temple of the Lord; so God hath determined; and he shall bear the glory, to him the entire glory of it shall be ascribed; and every faithful member of that church will with delight cast down his golden crown at his feet; and own that he, who alone hath won it, deserves to wear it for ever; and he shall sit and rule upon his throne, and he shall be a priest upon his throne, having all power delivered to him, and able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him, in virtue of the oblation once offered: as a priest God hath highly exalted him; and as he ever lives to plead for his faithful saints, so, as their glorious king, he reigns to save them from all iniquity: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both; either between Jehovah and the man the Branch, or between the kingly and sacerdotal offices of Christ; or the counsel of peace is the Gospel, preached to both Jew and Gentile; and uniting them together in love. And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the Lord, either for a constant testimony of the generous liberality of these good men; or to put the people in mind of him who should come, and to whom the crowns particularly referred. And they that are far off shall come, either the Jews yet in Babylon, or the Gentiles, Ephesians 2:12-13 who should be called by grace into the participation of all the privileges of the Gospel, and build in the temple of the Lord, as workers together helping forward the work of God; and by their labours bringing souls to Jesus Christ, as lively stones to be built upon him, the one great and glorious foundation; and ye shall know that the Lord of Hosts hath sent me unto you, the accomplishment of the prophesy would be a proof of his divine mission. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God: that is to say, as many as proved faithful and obedient would be convinced of the prophet's divine authority; or if they used their diligence in building the temple, God would take care that they should not want every needful assistance. Note; When we improve the graces and talents that we are intrusted with, then God giveth more grace.